I decided to do a prequel, will be Mike-centric (I stink at anything else). I am finishing one of my other stories and this idea kept playing in my head. Hope you enjoy. PLEASE review!

Before Everything

Chapter 1-September 11th, 2001

Mike had just wrapped a huge case at work. He was working night shift and was a homicide detective on the South Side of Chicago. The case involved a gang initiation that had caused a young mother and her eight-year-old daughter to be shoot. Both patients had lived, thankfully and would make a full recovery. It made him happy that he could wrap the case up before his weekend.

He and Christine had been married just shy of a year. They lived in a studio apartment close to Wrigley Field. It was an expensive area so they would have to move if they started a family. Mike wanted a houseful of kids and Christine wanted a wait a year or so and only have one to two kids. They both grew up in large Catholic families and it had rubbed off on Mike. He stopped by Christine's favorite bakery, grabbed a couple bagels and walked up to his apartment. Christine had stayed home from work the night before due to a lingering case of flu. She had been battling it for about a week; and Mike was secretly hoping it was symptoms of a pregnancy. He had three sisters and two sister-in-laws. His brothers had made sure he knew all the signs and symptoms of pregnancy and Christine was exhibiting a lot of them. As soon as he walked into the apartment, he heard Christine throwing up in the bathroom. He sit the bagels on the counter and walked into the bathroom.

"Not getting any better?" Mike asked.

"No. I called Mom and asked her to bring me some bone broth. She told me she was bringing a pregnancy test too. Be lucky if our moms, sisters and nieces and nephews don't show up soon." Christine said as she stood up, wiped of her face and grabbed her toothbrush. She and Mike had grown up in the same neighborhood and had known each other their entire lives. His younger sister, Molly was married to her brother, James and were expecting their first baby. Everyone had been making matches between the Slattery's and McGregor's for years. There were several double cousins and nieces and nephews.

"I hope they understand I need to sleep a little today and I suspect you need to too." Mike said.

"Yeah. I told her that much." Christine said. She had finished brushing her teeth and gave him a long kiss.

"Do you think your pregnant?" Mike asked with a grin. He would not be upset.

"Well, I keep throwing up. My breasts are sore and already feel swollen and my body feels different. I also haven't had a period in two months so…" Christine started and Mike threw his arms up in elation.

"Woo-hoo! So, what next? Doctor? Realtor?" Mike asked.

"Uh, pregnancy test. Just to be sure. I would say I'm about eight weeks along." Christine said.

"So, what late March, early April?" Mike asked, already making plans.

"Yeah, but Mike; its still early and I want to be sure. I've been thinking I was pregnant for about a month but…" Christine started.

"And you didn't tell me?" Mike asked.

"I wasn't sure and honestly was worried. With childcare being so expensive, I don't know if I can work unless its other shifts then you, then we'll barely see each other, and this apartment won't work for a baby and…" Christine started again.

"Chrissy, you know the tradition in both our families. You quit work now and enjoy yourself. We will find a house in our neighborhood and I'll work overtime. You can do some catering on the side when we need the money. I'm sure the moms would love to watch him." Mike said.

"Him, huh? What if it's a girl?" Christine asked.

"Or her. Chrissy, we will manage. You hate that job. I know you wanted to work your way into nursing school but you also want to be a mom." Mike said as he handed her the bagel she always wanted.

"True. I hate working in the hospital cafeteria. I can't experiment at all. I hope our house has a nice kitchen." Christine said with a dreamy look.

"I'll do my best. What the hell?" Mike asked as he looked at the TV. It was live coverage of something happening in New York City. A plane hit one of the World Trade Centers. As he and Christine watched, another plane hit the second tower and Mike knew in his gut that their world was about to change, and not because of Christine being pregnant.

"Mike, my brother and your sister? She works in Tower One and he's a cop. He'll respond to the scene. This has to be terrorism." Christine said in a quiet voice.

"Yeah…" Mike answered. His sister, Katie and Christine's brother, Adam had moved to New York City together five years before. They weren't married but the entire family knew they would eventually. Both sets of parents thought they lived separately but Mike and Christine knew better. Katie worked at one of the offices in Tower One and Adam was a sergeant with the NYPD. Nothing would be the same by that night.